RapidArc is a form of intensity modulated radiation therapy that allows patients to receive treatment faster than other types of radiation treatments, while maintaining precision delivery. During a RapidArc treatment, the speed of the linear accelerator gantry, shape of the treatment aperture, intensity of the individual radiation beamlets, and delivery dose rate are changed to deliver the full dose of treatment in as little as two minutes per day, compared to 10 minutes or longer for traditional radiation therapy. Treatment time determines the length of time that patients must remain still, allowing patients to be more comfortable during treatment and reducing the risk that unwanted movement of the treatment target could occur. Advanced image-guided radiation therapy capabilities have reduced patient positioning and setup times to as little as five minutes, and total time spent in the treatment room can average 10 minutes from entry to exit.
Your doctor will discuss your options with you and help you decide if RapidArc is right for your individual condition.